CURTAIN finally fell for seasoned theater, television and film actress Rustica Carpio yesterday over still unknown cause.
What was known is Rustica’s invaluable contributions to the arts—theater, literature, film, broadcast media, music.
Carpio started her artistic journey as a kundiman singer in Bulacan during her teenage life. Later, she was given a break to record a song but unfortunately, the piece was put on hold because, as she wrote in her autobiography “Shuttling through Stage and Screen” published by Far Eastern University Publications in 2008, she revolted against the musician who abducted and forced her to sexual abuses but luckily, through her presence of mind, she was able to free herself from bondage.
Before Rustica gave me the book with her autograph, we were running around during free time and she would unravel a lot of herself.
Carpio was practically alone in her house in Cubao except the presence of her kith and kin.
Tita (a term of endearment to an older woman, by affinity or by blood—a sister of one’s dad or mom) Rusty, as she was fondly called by friends and colleagues, was ubiquitous in many films and TV shows so whenever we encounter on the sets, we would talk a lot practically about anything.
She was very kind and concerned about the welfare of others. “Kailangang magturo ka. Walang security of tenure ang pagsusulat (You need to teach. Movie reporting especially as freelancer has no security tenure),” she advised.
At the time, I was completing may Master of Arts in Drama Education and Theater (DETA) from the Philippine Normal University (PNU) so she recommended me to teach at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). I took employment exams and all and was ready to take on the lecture seat but my academic records were delayed so prospect of teaching went pfft.
Still, we would see and talk with each other by chance.
Whenever I saw her, I would linger around like when she won Best Actress at the prestigious Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) at the UP Cine Adarna for “Lola” directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza.
Rustica was also a radio talent and an academician as a professor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), PUP and FEU. Before her campus teaching, she was Manila radio-USO singer and so-called dream girl of PI troops sent to Korean War in 1953. Eventually, mountain battleground in Korea was named after her, Rustie Hill.
The past years, though, saw her health deteriorating and she was on and off hospitalized.
She was 91.